SLATE POST

Random tech news and views

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iTunes for Android users

DoubleTwist, could be the best fall back plan for Android users who have had to deal with iPhone Envy Syndrome. DoubleTwist, one of the least talked about application on the Android Market is free and gives you a way to easily sync your iTunes Music Library with your Android device.

Monique Farantzos, one of DoubleTwist executives, said the software was developed to detect all playlists on a user’s computer and allow people to pick and choose what they want to load onto their phone.

The app also has an accessory in the market called DoubleTwist’s AirSync app which goes for $5. AirSync app enables you to transfer your new iTunes Music from your desktop to your device without plugging your device on your Desktop. All you need is a Wi-Fi connection and you can open AirSync and start the sync. With wireless syncing, Android devices have actually triumphed over iPhone devices which are limited to sync wirelessly only music files purchased on iTunes through Apple’s Cloud Service but not music files obtained elsewhere.

Once you’ve set up iTunes on your Android device, you will enjoy some other features that make your device a more versatile music player than an iPhone. As the song plays, for instance, you can tap on the musician’s name and a box appears, offering options for buying more of the artist’s songs or watching related YouTube videos, for instance.

 You can also set that song as your ringtone, or, if you’re feeling psychedelic, watch a dynamic graphical interpretation of the song. (There are 10 visual effects to choose from.)

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CompuLynx unveils a new retail solution for Kenyan market

  Kenyan ICT solutions developer firm, CompuLynx, has developed an application suited for the local retail sector.

The new system, known as CompuLynx Retail (CORE), will offer retailers a single solution that covers the entire scope of business processes, from budgeting and forecasting through assortment planning, warehouse management and logistics to store operations, point of sales and sales analysis.

CompuLynx, CEO, Mr. Sailesh Savani, says CORE reduces the inefficient, time-intensive processes that sometimes entail entering transactional data, running reports and report analysis before they can do their jobs effectively. 

“Designed to deal with the basic function, CORE enables a business’ entire operation to be controlled centrally for a company to work as a compatible whole resulting in higher efficiencies and reduced operational costs,” said Mr. Sailesh.

With CORE, CompuLynx seek to provide the local retail industry with a complete and best-of-breed retail and business functionality, without the hindrance of a long integration process.  CompuLynx is a pioneer software solutions exporter for its globally acclaimed iSmart retail solutions product and provide solutions and services that include Enterprise Retail Products for SME’s, Oracle Implementation and Support Services, Smart Card Solutions for Retail Banking and Payments, Higher Learning and identification, solutions for Health Care and Hospitality Sectors.

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Cloud VoIP for dummies book now available

With VoIP technology going mainstream as a cheaper way to connect with your global contacts for cheap, North America’s fastest growing business communications company, Fonality has deemed it fit to simplify the understanding and possibly the operation of the new virtual VoIP technology so as to get more people using it.

 In partnership with John Wiley & Sons, Inc., the publisher of the For Dummies® book series, the eBook details how cloud computing is changing the way communications technology such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Unified Communications (UC), is utilized.

“Fonality has guided the way in helping growing companies benefit from cloud-based business communications,” said Wes Durow, Chief Marketing Officer at Fonality. “Collaborating with For Dummies is an ideal forum to explain how businesses can easily access new features while simultaneously reducing costs and complexity.” 

Spanning the evolution of VoIP and UC to the emergence of cloud computing, Cloud VoIP For Dummies dissects the technology in an easy-to-use format. The book also describes how Fonality is at the forefront of interface and application development that uses the cloud to deliver Fortune 500 communications capabilities at a fraction of the cost. Each chapter includes a variety of practical tips, as well as technical insight to bring unprecedented clarity to the topic.

“Cloud VoIP For Dummies demystifies how the cloud delivers advanced business communications features simply and cost effectively,” said Andy Cummings, Dummies Tech VP & publisher. “As a leader in the space for SMBs, Fonality has sponsored this resource to help customers understand how the adoption of cloud VoIP services can help their business grow.” 

Purpose-built for SMBs, Fonality offers VoIP, UC and contact center solutions. The company’s cloud-based model provides the same services of traditional IP systems without costly hardware, infrastructure or lengthy implementation cycles. Total cost of ownership is dramatically reduced by 50 percent, or more, while users enjoy access to powerful communications services usually reserved for the largest of companies.

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Skype to acquire SMS platform GroupME for $85 Million

Microsoft Corporation owned, Skype is set acquire Group SMS Platform, GroupME in a deal speculated to be worth $85 Million. According to Skype C.E.O Tony Bates, talks about the acquisition  with GroupMe was initiated long before they were bought by Microsoft and with the Microsoft deal still pending approval, Bates say they'll keep GroupMe as a standalone brand and look for integration points over time.

Other competition to GroupMe comes from Google, which has group SMS in the Google Voice web interface, Google's 'Huddle' feature, Facebook with their mobile Facebook Messenger app, and Apple's iMessage application which has group SMS. My question is, with both Skype and Microsoft being software development companies, you want to tell me they couldn't build such a system from scratch within the Skype client? Really? I think there is a lot of shortcuts in development world that these technology giants are using to fight competition, unless we are talking about GroupME owning some patents here. It's a nice deal for any VC-funded company anyway.

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Microsoft seeks patent for eavesdropping your Skype Calls

  Technology giant, Microsoft Corporation, is seeking patent for a technology called Legal Intercept that would allow the company to secretly intercept, monitor and record Skype calls.

 Filed in December 2009, the document was created when Microsoft may have had no intentions of acquiring Skype, but the company makes clear statements that it applies to Skype and other VoIP services as evident on the abstract below:

As mentioned previously, traditional techniques for silently recording telephone communication may not work correctly with VoIP and other network-based communication technology. As used hereafter, the term VoIP is used to refer to standard VoIP as well as any other form of packet-based communication that may be used to transmit audio over a wireless and/or wired network. For example, VoIP may include audio messages transmitted via gaming systems, instant messaging protocols that transmit audio, Skype and Skype-like applications, meeting software, video conferencing software, and the like.

According to the patent, Microsoft envisions a variety of possibilities to use "recording agents" as a way to intercept, monitor, record, manipulate and store recorded calls. The agent could be placed in a router, call server, or within the network of an organization. The agent can also be a software module that is placed between the call server or the network, this is basically due to the challenge that P2P technology that Skype uses presents. Peer-2-Peer (P2P) has packets traveling across different router hops, which makes it hard to predict exactly where the packets are going plus i'm not sure if Microsoft will have to turn off the 256 bit AES encryption that Skype uses.

 Depending on how you view it, the good news is that the technology is as far as I can gather, will only become a tool for law enforcement procedures but either way, no more anonymity on Skype and other P2P services.